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August 31, 2004ObituariesFRANKFORT - Ruby Mae Rohn, 75, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Long Term Care.She was born in Elberta on March 8, 1929, the daughter of Wilmer and Anna (Pettis) Gray. Ruby was the Salutatorian for the class of 1948 at Elberta High School. She worked at Hazzard's Sewing Shop in Frankfort. Ruby married Leroy Nov. 21, 1956, in Beulah. She was a homemaker. Her 13-year-old brother-in-law came to live with them immediately after marrying. Ruby raised him as well as her five children, who soon came along. Every day, she would welcome them after school with a nice, homemade snack. She was an excellent cook and baker, known especially for her pies, cookies and cinnamon rolls. Some of her children recall they never had store-bought cookies until after moving away from home. Ruby worked at many crafts, including knitting Norwegian mittens, sewing and quilting, making many items for her family, as well as for friends in the community. Ruby was a very caring person. As her sisters became elderly, she would regularly visit and give gifts of fruit baskets, crafts she had made or special treats that she knew would make them happy. She was involved in the Cooperative Home Extension Program, visiting Michigan State University several times for outreach sessions and classes. She is survived by her husband, Leroy; sons, Walter (Beth) of St. Louis, Mo., Michael (Patti), and Kenneth of Frankfort, and Earl (Robin) of Washington; her daughter, Ruby (Thomas) Kidd of Waco, Texas; three grandchildren, Erick and Amanda Rohn, and Jonathan Kidd. She is also survived by three sisters, Frances (Ira) Tarzwell of Cheboygan, Betty Blood of Holland, and Gertrude Burley of Frankfort; two sisters-in-law, Wanda Gray of Traverse City and Anna Gray of Frankfort; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ruby was preceded in death by her four sisters, Lila Smeltzer, Zelma Gray, Virginia Gray, and Emma Blood; and three brothers, Wilmer, Robert and William Gray. Visitation will take place Thursday, Sept. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Benzonia Chapel, McElduff Funeral Homes. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at the funeral home, with Fr. Ray Cotter officiating. Interment will be in Gilmore Township Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Long Term Care Unit. Arrangements have been made by McElduff Funeral Homes. TRAVERSE CITY - Helen L. Womack, 79, of Traverse City, formerly of Torch Lake and Sun City West, Ariz., died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at Munson Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family. Born April 1, 1925, in Detroit, she was the daughter of Charles Lothrop and Mary Loraine (Detwiler) Hayward. On June 30, 1949, in Detroit, she married Donald Whitfield Womack, who preceded her in death on Jan. 15, 2000. Helen was a kind, generous, feisty, determined woman. She graduated from Alma College, where she was "Queen of Scots" and met her beloved, Don. Together they had three children and many family pets. Helen had been employed as a teacher in the Detroit area for over 30 years. After retirement, Helen and Don enjoyed many years of boating, golfing, traveling, and spending summers on Torch Lake socializing with their dear friends. Helen often spoke of the memories she had from her father's purchase of Shady Rest on Torch Lake in the 1930s. The land, the lake, and the whispering pines, were her delight and she thoroughly loved being there. Survivors include her three children, Mary (Ted) Brontsema of Glendale, Ariz., Kathryn (Steven) Holl of Traverse City and Chad (Su) of England; five grandchildren, Sol, Angela, Rory, Theo and Travis Juan; and a sister, Phyllis Livingstone of Kalamazoo and Torch Lake. A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Church on Friday, Sept. 3, at 11 a.m., with visitation from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service. The Rev. Dr. Homer Nye will officiate. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Elk Rapids Public Library, the First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids, or the Presbyterian Church in Traverse City. Arrangements are being handled by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. SAGINAW - Gene "Nick" Wressell, 62, of Saginaw, passed away Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004, at Covenant Medical Center-Cooper Campus. He was born Aug. 13, 1942, to Gene and Ortelle Wressell. He was married to Nancy J. Meyer on Oct. 26, 1962, in Saginaw. She survives. Nick had been employed by Farrand Builders of Saginaw for 30 years. He was a very creative craftsman, and loved spending time with his grandchildren and fishing with his buddies Don and Mark. In addition to his wife, Nancy, he is survived by his mother, Ortelle Wressell; a daughter, Elizabeth (Mark) Shuler of Chesaning; two granddaughters, Caleigh and Emilee Shuler of Chesaning; three sisters and two brothers, Judy (Jerry) Erickson of Marquette, Linda (Leon) Lichty, Thom (Sandy) Wressell, Teri (Mike) Mulcahy and Bill (Bobbi) Wressell, all of Traverse City. Nick was preceded in death by his father, Gene Wressell on Dec. 7, 1998. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 2, at the Deisler Funeral Home in Saginaw. Those planning an expression of sympathy may consider memorials to Wegener's Granulomatosis Association, P.O. Box 28660, Kansas City, MO 64188. TRAVERSE CITY - Eva J. Pownall, 87, lifelong resident of Traverse City and homemaker, died Monday morning at her home. Born July 26, 1917, in Twelve Mile, Ind., she was the daughter of the late George F. and Myrtle A. (Calendar) Hopkins. On May 15, 1937, in LaGrange, Ind., she married Harry H. Pownall, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Ronald (Judy) Pownall of Traverse City and Gary (Sandy) Pownall of Suttons Bay. Private family services will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of one's choice. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. *PHOTO* Kenneth D. Guy Died August 29, 2004 TRAVERSE CITY - Kenneth D. Guy, 90, passed away peacefully at his home in Traverse City on Sunday, Aug. 29, after a short illness. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Kathryn, in 2001. Ken was born on Dec. 25, 1913, in Detroit, the son of Walter D. and Florence (Perry) Guy. He came to the Traverse City area in 1972 from South Bend, Ind. He enjoyed his bike riding, golfing, and bowling with his buddies on a regular basis. Ken loved his family and they loved him. His survivors include three children, Larry and his wife, Jane, of South Bend, Ind., Tom and his wife, Lynn, of Eckerman, and Marilyn Ermer and her husband, Floyd, of Naperville, Ill.; and a brother, Ralph of Warren, Ohio. He much enjoyed visits from his 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He will also be missed by his faithful, loving neighbor, Faith Linsenmeyer. In addition to his wife, Ken was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 31, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., with a prayer service at 4 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Rev. John Ellinger will preside. A prayer service will also be held on Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m., with visitation one hour prior, at the Welsheimer Funeral Home at 17033 Cleveland Road in South Bend, Ind. Memorial contributions may be directed to Central United Methodist Church or Hospice. Arrangements are being handled by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. *PHOTO* Florence Vivian Holden Died August 28, 2004 GLEN LAKE - Florence Vivian Holden, 93, of Glen Lake, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at Bortz Healthcare. Born Aug. 16, 1911, in Hammond, Ind., she was the daughter of the late Franklin L. and Susan B. (Gehrke) Savery. On Feb. 7, 1959, in Hammond, Ind., she married David Holden. Florence was a resident of Glen Lake since 1959, coming from the Chicago area. She attended college and later had been employed as an administrative assistant for a smelting company. Florence had been a member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Empire, the Glen Lake Women's Club, Glen Lake Garden Club, and the Delta Sigma Kappa Sorority in Hammond, Ind. She loved watching the wildlife around her home and writing poetry. Survivors include her cousin, Dorothy Mae Schreiber of Arizona, who was like a sister to her; two step-grandchildren, David Dougherty of Illinois and Shawn Dougherty; one step-great-grandchild, Joshua Connor; her dear close friends, the Gauthier and Noonan families; and special nieces and nephews. Florence was preceded in death by her husband, David in 1980; and a brother, John Franklin Savery, who died during the war in 1942. Friends may call at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City on Thursday, Sept. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Empire on Friday, Sept. 3, at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the Mass. The Rev. Fr. Garth Hilmer will serve as celebrant. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. In remembrance of Florence, memorials may be directed to the Father Fred Foundation. Virginia A. Bergman Died August 28, 2004 TRAVERSE CITY - Virginia A. Bergman, 88, a lifelong resident of Traverse City, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at home surrounded by her loving family. Born Dec. 1, 1915, in Traverse City, she was the daughter of John and Anna (Campbell) Drinan. On June 14, 1947, at St. Francis Catholic Church, she married John F. Bergman, Sr., who preceded her in death in 1987. She attended St. Francis Elementary School, graduating from Traverse City Central High School in 1933. Virginia graduated in 1936 from the Mercy Academy of Nursing in Muskegon. She worked as a registered nurse for several years at the Boardman Valley Hospital, also known as County Hospital, in Traverse City. Virginia was very proud of her Irish Catholic heritage, practicing her faith and living her life accordingly. She was a lifelong member of St. Francis Catholic Church, a past member of the Catholic Daughters of America, the St. Francis Altar Society, and the Variety Club. Virginia is survived by her four children, John Jr. (Pamela) Bergman of Traverse City, Mary (Todd) Jarson of Jenison, Thomas (Jody) Bergman of Traverse City, and David Bergman of Berkley; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Along with her husband John, Virginia was preceded in death by her daughter, Anne; brothers, John, James and David; and sisters, Sister Mary Kieren RSM (Catherine), Frances and Jean. Friends may call this evening, Aug. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City, where a rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 1, at St. Francis Catholic Church, with the Rev. Fr. Kenneth Stachnik serving as celebrant. Burial will be in Oakwood Catholic Diocesan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Munson Hospice, St. Francis Church Food Pantry, or the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools.
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